Is Levi Johnston Hot Enough to Be a Model?

Levi Johnston, the father of Sarah Palin’s first acknowledged grandchild, appeared on The Tyra Banks Show two weeks ago to end his silence. There was speculation as to why Johnston would open up to Banks—as opposed to Oprah Winfrey or Barbara Walters—and the answer became clear the next day. In a follow-up CBS Early Show report, anchor Maggie Rodriguez explained Johnston’s career strategy: “He says that he will be an electrician like everyone else in his family, or maybe all this publicity will lead to a modeling or acting gig, which he is open to.”

If Johnston wants a career in modeling, it makes sense to cozy up to Banks, the creator and host of The CW’s addictive America’s Next Top Model. Banks even primed the pump on her couch, exclaiming, “I didn’t know you were this handsome.” Johnston’s hotness has been buzzed about since he took the stage at the Republican National Convention. Even The Atlantic ‘s Andrew Sullivan rose above his issues with Johnston’s former-almost-mother-in-law and conceded, ‘Man, he's a good-looking high school dropout.”

But a recent survey of top New York modeling agencies reveals that being the hottest guy at Wasilla High School may not be enough. Here’s how the agencies reacted when I asked if they were considering taking Johnston up on his offer.

Click Models

“We didn’t reach out to him. I guess he’s interested, but we weren’t,” said Stephanie Grill, director of Click’s men’s board.

DNA Model Management

“No one has reached out to him. He’s a good-looking guy, but not really a model type. No one would see him on the runway. He was ill-at-ease on Tyra Banks and I can’t see that changing drastically,” said Fred Howard of DNA public relations.

Ford Models

“No one in the Men’s Division has reached out. It wasn’t even brought up. I know every time I saw him during the elections, I never thought, ‘He should be a male model.’ It would be doubtful,” said Jesse Simon of the Ford men’s board, in New York.

New York Model Management

“I have no idea who he is or what he looks like. I wish I knew more about who that is, but my computers are down,” said Erin Lundgren, men’s board.

Next Models

“No. If you hear him interviewed, he’s not that bright. Even if he were amazing looking, he still comes off as a bit of a lug. Doesn’t have the elegance,” said Elaine Bohary, director of the New York men’s division.

VNY Model Management

“We didn’t and we don’t even know who he is,” said Lana Winters, owner.

Wilhelmina Modeling Agency

“We have not to my knowledge reached out to him. I’m sorry. I’m not familiar,” said Scott in the New York men’s division.

So Johnston’s no Zoolander. But maybe it’s unfair to think that, with his Alaskan pallor and slight paunch under his chin, he would start at such a rarefied level. Maybe the teenager who loves moose hunting and hockey would be better suited to hawking an earthier product.

Since his first name is “Levi,” I contacted Levi’s jeans to see if they had any interest. Erica Archambault, head of public relations for Levi’s emailed me back: “Re: your question about whether we'd consider using Levi Johnston as a model, we have not and do not plan to consider this strategy.”

Still, there’s hope for Johnston. The Scott Copeland International Talent Agency, located in La Jolla, California, is devoted to developing and launching male and female modeling talent. A former Wilhemina model himself, Copeland has placed clients into campaigns including Abercrombie & Fitch and Calvin Klein.

Copeland was not familiar with Johnston when I first called, but he looked him up on the Internet while still on the phone and his response was enthusiastic. “He’s a cute kid. He could definitely do everything,” Copeland said. “I look at the nose, mouth, shape of head, jaw line ... He’s got it.”

But “it “would require some work. “He would need a makeover,” continued Copeland. “We’d have to get him the right hair-do and the right weight, and teach him how to look at the camera. He’d have to agree to jump through hoops. But I’m definitely interested.”
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Copeland seemed disappointed when I told him I didn’t know how to contact Johnston directly. Fortunately, last night on CNN’s Larry King Live, Johnston was asked if he was making any money off his situation. Johnston said not yet, claiming there’d been various offers but he hadn’t committed to anything. When King inquired specifically about modeling, Johnston cut him off, saying “My guy, [Anchorage Private Investigator] Tank Jones, they can talk to him about it.”

But if Copeland does get in touch with Jones, Johnston should know that Copeland made it clear that it wasn’t a done deal: “I would need to produce him—which I could do over the Internet—but at some point, he’d have to come out here and expose himself to my photographers.”